Dispenser for salt or the like



Nov. 7, 1950 Filed Jan. 21, 1948 l v h k X I 9 M2 A. f m ww MA 4 IH a s i M INVENTOR. EDWARD LA F'FE LZZRI 81 77};

ATTUEZVE'Y Patented Nov. 7, 1950 DISPENSER FOR SALT OR. THE LIKE Edward Lapp, Jr.,- Scarsdale; N. Y.; Anne M.

Lapp executrix of said Edward ceased Application January 21, 1948 Serial No. 3,621

' v 6 Claims. (01. 222 1s3) This invention relates to containers for condiments, and, more specifically, to improved dis-' pensers for salt or the like.

' It is Well known that conventional receptacles of the character intended for use in containing and dispensing a condiment, such-as granularsalt, at the table are frequently incapable of dispensing the salt through the usual perforations due to the caking of the salt. This is especially true in moist climates and during humid periods in temperate climates, for thereason that moisture in the air is absorbed by the contents of the container, causing it to cake and preventing its free'delivery, as required. The present-invention obviates these difiiculties as it provides a dispenser of the type indicated which effectively excludes airborne moisture and foreign material from the interior thereof.

A dispenser constructed accordance with this invention preferably consists of a pair. of units, namely, a shaker unit and a cap unit.

The shaker unit may comprise a pedestal including a cylindrical base having a planar top wall. Integral with the base is a continuous lateral flange that carries a depending flange which completes the pedestal. Also integral with and projecting outwardly of the peripheral surface of the base is a plurality of angularly spaced The outersurface of each rib constitutes ribs. a portion of the surface of revolution of a right circular cone. The upper end of each rib merges with-the upper edge of the base. Mounted on the h p Wall of the base isan upstanding tubular wall that is positioned inwardly of the upper edge of the base. The tubular wall is formed With external threads at its upper end for engagement with corresponding threads in a cover having perforations through which the salt or' other condiment is adapted to be discharged.

The cap unit comprises an imperforate frustroconical tubular member open at its lower end and closed at its upper end.

The cap unit is adapted to be placed over the shaker unit and moved downwardly with respect thereto so that its inner frustro-conical surface frictionally engages the outer surface of each rib and forms substantially continuous and line contact with the upper edge of the base. Also, the

open end of the cap unit is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the lateral flange of the shaker unit to form substantially continuous contact therewith. The frictional engagement between the inner surface of the cap unit and the outer surface of each rib maintains the units in;assembled relation. The contact between the frustro-conicalinner surface of the cap unit arm the upper edge of the base, and between the open end of the cap unit and the upper surface of the lateral flange effectively excludes moisture and foreign matter in theair from the interior of the shaker, and thereby prevents caking of the salt or'other condiment-that may be contained in-the shaker, as-will be apparent from the detailed description-that follows, taken in conjunc tion with the annexed drawing.

Either or both of the units may be made of any suitable material-that is impervious to-mois V ture. -A-mong 'the'materials'that are well suited for-use in the manufacture of -the'dispenser of this i-nventionare' various known moldable ther- When'amoplasticmaterials, metals or glass. plastic or glass is used, it may be either translucentor transparent and-tinted, as may be desired.-= IhaNe found thatthermoplastics are particularly suitable in attaining the objects of the invention.

-Th'e invention has for its'primary object the provision of an improved dispenser for salt or the like that is adapted to insure the maintenance ofit's contents ina relatively-dry state and free fromforeign matter transmitted by air.

'Anothe'r object-of the invention is to provide an improved dispenser of the above nature which is-simplein construction; attractive in design-,- and inexpensive to manufacture.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide 7 a'dispenserof the character indicated,-thatper-* forms-its intended-functions in an effective and trouble-free manner.

With the foregoing, as well as other objectsin view, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts set forth in the following detailed description and shown in the accompanying-drawing, from which the c0nstruction,- operation and advantages "of theapparent to'persons invention will be readily skilled -inthe art. H In "the drawing Figure 1* i's'-=a-view in front elevation of a dispenser constructed in accordance with this invention -Figure 2 is a central vertical cross-sectional View of the structure shown-in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2-;- and Figure 4 isf'a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like refer I corresponding parts throughoutthe- -several"views, a hollow imperence numerals denote forate pedestal, generally indicated by numeral l0, includes a cylindrical base ll having a top wall I2. Integral with base II is a continuous lateral flange l3 that carries a depending flange I4. Also integral with the base is a plurality of angularly spaced ribs l5 that project outwardly of the peripheral surface of the base. The outer surface [6 of each rib constitutes a portion of" the surface of: revolution-of arightcircular cone andthe upper edge of each rib merges with and is coincident with the uper edge I! of the base.

A tubular wall l9, preferably..frustro-conical,. is mounted on base wall l2 inwardly of upper The upperend: of wallels" edge I! of the base. is externally threaded for engagementuwith the correspondingly threaded portion of a removable cover that is provided with aeseries of .perforae. tions 2| through which the contents of the dis-' penser are adapted to be discharged.

It is preferred and recommended that pedestal lll and tubularwall ill-"be :made 3from: a ireadily moldable thermoplastic material, and that at;

Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed-that-the inner: frustro-conical surface of cap-22-frictionally ene gages the outer surface iii of each rib [5,3]],(1' the; open end of the cap bears againstthe upperface: of'pedestal flange: l3.- Also,: the inn'erfrustro conical surface of cap :22 forms substantiallyy continuous and line contact with-edge H of the; in engagement with the pedestal and excludes-:

base. Thus, the cap-is frictionallwmaintained moisture, dust and other airborne particles from the interior of tubular wall, 19;.

To I dispense salt or .othercondiment thatrmayg becontained within the conflnes ,-of wall l9,- the:. individual merely removes-,cap-ZZ and uses-the shaker unit in the usual manner: It will be apparent that the cap mayebe readily redisposed on the shaker. unit after, use so; asto protect the contents of the shaker unit,- i

It is to be understoodthat --the form ofzmy invention herewith shown and described-is jtobe taken asa preferredexampleofthe -same,;and-.i that various changes in the shape.siz ,-arrange- 1. In a dispenser for salt or the likmla .bases comprising a cylindrical upper portion; a plu-:

rality of angularly spaced? lribs integral with ;the--;

base, at least the major portion of.:each rib projecting outwardly of the peripheral-.surfaceof said upper portion, and a continuous lateral flange portion. below the ribs;,an upstandi ;1j

4 tinuous contact with the upper surface of the flange portion of the base.

2. In a dispenser for salt or the like, an imperforate base comprising a cylindrical upper portion having an upper fiat surface that is normal to the cylindrical surface, a plurality of angularly spaced ribs integral with the base, at least the majorportion' of reach .rib cprojecting outwardly of the peripheral surface of saidupperportion, and a continuous lateral flange below the ribs, an upstanding tubular wall mounted on said upper flat surface and positioned inwardly of the upper edge of said upper portion, at least 'theportion of the-base below the interior of the tubular wall being transparent, a removable perforate closure across the upper end of the tubular wall,. a removable imperforate hollow tubular wall mounted on said upper portior and positioned inwardly of the; uppenedgethereof,

a removable imperforate hollowcap closed at itsr:

upper end and open at itslower-end surrounding and spaced from the tubular walhpthez';inner;

surface of the cap frictionally engaging; the

outer surface of each rib and forming substan-' tially continuous and line contact with -the;upper forate'scylindricalbase having an upper flat-"sui ,the' upper portions of; the-base; the enter 1 surfac ofeach: rib constituting-3a:portion of the surface cap closed' at its upper end and open at its lower end surrounding and spaced from the tubular wall, the inner surface of the cap frictionally engagingthe outer surfacetofteachrib-and forming; substantially continuous and'gliner'contact, with the upper edge of theeupper; port-ionof-zthe base; and thelower-end of :the l-cap; fOIIIllXlgfSllbstantially; continuous: contact: with: the: upper.) surface-10f the fiangeportionof the base;

3. In a dispenser for saltor the like, a-gcylina drical base, aplurality of angularly. spacediribsg integral with the base, atileast the major pore: tion of; each: rib projecting; outwardly-ofi the; peripheral surfaceof the; base the outer surface. of each rib; constituting --a-v portion: of zthe'.rsurface; of:;'rev0lution:1of at. right :circular'icone; anaupe. st-anding;;tubular wall. mounted-con: -the,;-:ba'se.-andi. positionedinwardly of thei..:upper edge thereof; ax removable; imperforate ticarxa surroundings-and: spaced-sfnom lthe itubulamwa'll; .said: cap. having: a? frustro-conical inner surfacetifrictionallyerengag ingi the :outer; surface 20f eachizrib tandi forming substantially. continuous]. and: line contact with the upper'edge of thezb'asez; a

4; In. adispenser: for salt or the like, a -base comprising-a cylindricalaupper portion; a plu'- rality :of. 'angularlyispaced 'ribs integral with the base, at leas'tsthemajor. portion of each rib projecting-routwardlyof. the peripheral surface: of said upper; portionpthe outer surface of each ribaconstituting" a portion=-of '"tlie surface of revolution of..- a. right. circular: cone; and a continuous lateral flange porti'on below therib's; an u standing tubular wall mountedon said upper portion and. positi'oned inwardly of "the u'pper edge 'thereof', a removable imperforate hollowcapclosed atits uppere'nd 'an'd -open at itselowe end" -surrounding and" spaced from the 'tubular wall; said cap' having a -frustr'o co-nical' inner sui face frictionally engaging the outer surface 7 of each rib and fo'r-ming: substantially continuous and line contact" with -tl1e upper= edge -o'f the upper portion of=the=basey I and the lower endiof the cap forming substantially continuous l con tact with the upper surface-of theflange portion ofitl iebase V Y q 5. In a dispenser for salt or the like; an i'mp face; normal to the cylindrioal surfacea--p'lu ralityaof: rangularly 'spaced ribs te'gral with t base, atileast the major portion 'of each rib' pro jectingxoutwardly of the peripheral sur fac'e o l:

of revolution; ofiaarighticircular cone, -an up standing-tubular.wall mountedz onsaidauppcr'flaii'. surface I and positioned inwardly: ofi zther upper? I edge-:of the base; a-; removablesperfo'ratel closures across the upper end of the tubular wall, a removable imperforate cap surrounding and spaced from the tubular wall, said cap having a frustroconical inner surface frictionally engaging the outer surface of each rib.

6. In a dispenser for salt or the like, an imperforate base comprising a cylindrical upper portion having an upper flat surface normal to the cylindrical surface, a plurality of angularly spaced ribs integral with the base, at least the major portion of each rib projecting outwardly of the peripheral surface of said upper portion, the outer surface of each rib constituting a portion of the surface of revolution of a right circular cone, and a continuous lateral flange below the ribs, an upstanding tubular wall mounted on said upper fiat surface and positioned inwardly of the upper edge of the base, at least the portion of the base below the interior of the tubular Wall being transparent, a removable perforate closure across the upper end of the tubular wall, a removable imperforate hollow cap closed at its upper end and open at its lower end surrounding and spaced from the tubular wall, said cap having a frustro-conical inner surface frictionally engaging the outer surface of each rib and forming substantially continuous and line contact with the upper edge of the upper portion of the base, and the lower end of the cap forming substantially continuous contact with the upper surface of the flange portion of the base.

EDWARD LAPPE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 21,796 Button Aug. 23, 1892 213,576 Johnston et a1. Mar. 25, 1879 746,730 Bennett Dec. 15, 1903 1,127,611 Friday "Feb. 9, 1915 1,346,007 Aguiar July 6, 1920 1,380,310 Wolcott May 31, 1921 1,533,318 Ihling Apr, 11, 1925 1,567,726 Frierson Dec. 29, 1925 1,898,654 Breslauer Feb. 21, 1933 2,076,550 Conner Apr. 13, 1937 2,328,246 Albion Aug. 31, 1943 2,342,932 Fram et al. Feb. 29, 1944: 

